Technology is constantly evolving and this is a good thing in many sectors of life. But, while you’re probably aware of the latest developments in the cell phone market, you may not be as conversant as you think with what advancements there have been in medical devices that will make everyone’s lives easier.
Smart Inhalers
The inhaler has been around for many years and is used to treat asthma and other respiratory issues. It’s actually very effective for the majority of patients.
However, as many as 94% of users don’t use their inhalers properly, negating the benefits of these devices.
The smart inhaler records times and amounts of doses and sends the information to your smartphone, allowing a patient to track their own condition properly.
Reclining Chairs
New technology is converting humble hospital recliner chairs into medical labs on wheels. Not only are the chairs becoming more adaptable and flexible, enabling patients to get the perfect seating position. They are also able to connect with basic monitoring devices to track your vitals and notify you if there is an issue.
This will help you to get the medical help you need faster and for t to be more effective.
Robots & Surgery
Surgeons already use microscopic tools to reduce scarring and inflammation during operations. Technology is now evolving to provide the surgeons with robots that are even more precise than the hands of a talented surgeon.
This will allow seemingly impossible operations to be performed and, combined with augmented reality, allow the surgeons to monitor the progress of the operation and improve things as necessary.
Wireless Brain Sensors
It is not possible to insert a sensor into the brain that will dissolve after a set period of time. It will improve surgeon knowledge while monitoring and operating on brain injuries and avoids the need for secondary surgeries to remove them.
3-D Printing
This isn’t new technology anymore but it is still developing. 3-D printers can now be used to create implants and joints, ensuring an exact match which will improve comfort in the future.
They can also print pills that contain the right mixture of drugs for a specific patient, making managing a condition much simpler.
Of course, the logical extension of this is to create 3-D organs for patients in need. Although this technology is currently in its infancy, there are promising developments in bio-printing which allows the creation of blood vessels and organs perfectly matched to individuals. This could literally save millions of lives.
Virtual Reality
VR is not new but it’s merging with healthcare is new and exciting. A surgeon can rehearse a procedure as many times as they wish in order to perfect it. The crucial part is the VR element ensures they are working in exactly the same conditions as they will be when they undertake the operation for real.
CRISPR
Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats is gene-editing technology. It can efficiently and effectively remove infected DNA strands from the body, effectively eliminating disease.
Development is still needed on this controversial technological advance but it has the potential to revolutionize the way diseases are treated in a matter of years!